After weeks of appealing for donations to help families in need in Trowbridge, the Salvation Army can finally assess the Toy Appeal’s success after it closed on Monday.

The appeal has been running for the past six weeks with drop-off points popping up in Trowbridge and beyond.

Stephen and Janice Smith, of Warminster, have been members of the Trowbridge Salvation Army since 1987 and have helped with the Toy Appeal for the last five years.

Mr Smith said: “There has been a big jump in the number of children needing our help, but there has been a big jump in the support from people enabling us to do it.

“I am really pleased that the Salvation Army and friends that helped us with this appeal are here to do this, but I wish it wasn’t necessary.”

Toy services at St Mary the Virgin Church in Steeple Ashton, Salvation Army in Trowbridge and St Barnabas in Easterton, helped bump up the number of donations and this was the first year The Shires in Trowbridge got involved when it opened a drop-off point in the management suite.

The Wiltshire Times joined in with the appeal again this year and delivered more than 30 bags of toys to the Salvation Army on Monday.

Donations ranged from toys and games to books, for girls and boys aged up to 16 years old.

Volunteers sorted through them on Monday and put them in bags which had been marked by Social Services with the age and gender of the child they will be benefitting.

Salvation Army Major Kelvin Lang said: “Everybody has had to tighten their belts, but their generosity is still amazing. We really do appreciate all the support.”